Audible signal device for liquid tanks



Jan. 10, 1939. G. K. cRossLEY AUDIBLE SIGNAL DEVICE FOR LIQUID TANKS Filed Sept. 15, 1936 Patented Jan. 10, 1939 PATENT OFFICE AUDIBLE SIGNAL DEVICE Fon lLIQiUim TANKS George K. Crossley, Pawtucket, R. I., assigner `to Scully Signal Company, Cambridge, Mass., a

corporation of Massachusetts Application September 15, 1936, Serial No. 100,868

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to audible signal devices more particularly adapted for installation in household fuel tanks and the like.

As is well known to those skilled in the art,

5 tanks of this sort are ordinarily located in the basement of a residence, and the problem of lling such tanks without overiiow renders the employment of some type of reliable indicating device desirable if not essential.

l0 The object of the present'invention is to improve and simplify audible signals for this purpose in a manner to facilitate installation and produce a rugged and economical construction.

With this and other objects in view, the features of the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and ar-` rangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from` the following description.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. v1 represents a side elevation partly in section of the improved audible signal installed in .the usual vent of a fuel tank; and Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating the lower part of the signal housing removed and exposing the ported valve seat for venting excess pressure.

The present invention may be embodied in a household tank indicated at I0, having the usual filler pipe i2 and vent pipe I4 extending into the top of the tank. The present construction is designed to be inserted within the vent pipe either directly or by cutting away a section of the vent 45 two parts serves a dual function, iirst because it permits the employment of different size threaded connections, as for example, the use of a vent pipe and opening of different diameters, and in addition it may facilitate installation by discon- 50 necting the two parts of the housing and connecting them separately to the tank and `vent pipe, respectively. v

The lower'housing section IB is provided with an inner head portion 30 supported by integral arms 32 which encompass ports 34, as indicated 'in Fig. 2. The lower section when assembled with the lupper section has an internal ledge 36, 5

which in conjunction with the upper face 38 of the member 30 forms a valve seat loosely supporting'a flat Vvalve disk 40. The hollow head portion 30 is provided with an audible whistle 42, which compels gases or vapors passing 10 through the head to sound the whistle. The lower end of the head is threaded at 44, and is rigidly connected with the standpipe 46.

The operation of the construction is substantially as follows. After the audible signal is l5 inserted in the upper portion of the fuel tank and the operation of filling is commenced, the discharge of air or vapor duer to filling is compelled to pass outwardly through the depending pipe 46 and sound the whistle 42. This audible 20 signal continues until the liquid level has risen to a point where the lower open end of the standpipe is trapped. Thereafter continued discharge of vapors due to filling is discontinued and the audible signal ceases. such as to provide an audible alarm zone in the upper end of the tank and indicates upon discontinuance ofthe whistle that filling has been substantially completed. So long as the disk 40 remains seated, the bulk of the air and vapors 30 are vented through the whistle. Any undue pressure created within the tank, however, which should be vented and which may be due to either 'rapid lling, clogging of the whistle, or any other reason, is bypassed about the whistle by lifting of the fiat disk.40 which creates an opening directly into the vent pipe through the ports 34. This bypassed vent also serves to relieve pressure within the upper part of the tank if illling is conl tinued substantially after the lower end of the standpipe 46 has been trapped by the liquid level. What is claimed is: Y NAn audible signal device for liquid tanks comprising a housing connected with the vent opening of a tank, a xed standpipe projecting downwardly into the tank from the housing,a whistle connected to the upper end of thestandpipe, a vent around the, standpipe, and a sliding valve normally closing the vent and designed to be elevated by pressure within the tank to bypass about the whistle.

GEORGE K. CROSSIEY.

The length of the pipe is 25 

